If you’re visiting Hawaii in the near future, or at the holidays, this news is critical.
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Home » Blog » Hawaii Travel Tips » CVS Pulls Out Of Hawaii Testing | Vault + Others Overwhelmed
FYI Everyone… This email is manned by individuals who work 7 days a week. (I think they work from home.) But bottom line is they are actually HUMAN – I had a fabulous and fascinating 5 back and forth conversations with one of them last Sunday! You will get actual answers not canned responses.
[email protected]
Thank you for reviewing my question. We are going to use Go Health..Here in Oregon. Are all the trusted partners for Hawaii CILA certified Thank you .
I have had a trip planned for a year (for my Mom’s 90th birthday). Her heart is set on the trip, despite the risks. She’s been trapped in assisted living for nearly a year, and this is the one thing she’s been holding onto. Cancelling will be a blow to her, so we’re trying to make it happen.
We’re located in Pennsylvania and I have explored every option, but despite what the State and company websites say… on the east coast rapid testing is nearly impossible to get.
My best bet looked like GoHealth in NY and Delaware. Delaware informed me that the GoHealth site mistakenly included them. They do not have rapid testing. Then I tried NY, but the sites I call will not promise access to a rapid test due to limited quantities. I have to just show up, and hope they have one. That’s a big risk since I have to drive 5 hours to get to the closest one.
Thanks to one of the comments here, I found XpresCheck. They are booked in Newark airport, but I got appointments at JFK. I’ll call them tomorrow to confirm that the test is truly a Hawaii approved rapid test. If so, we’ll drive 5 hours one way for a test, then drive back.
If they can’t confirm, I think we’ll be cancelling.
I truly appreciate the tough spot the State of Hawaii is in. They want to find the right balance between public health and economic recovery. I’m glad I’m not the governor. All I can say is… the current program is a mess from the traveler’s perspective. I wish them luck as they try to evolve it.
BILL…
For what it’s worth, this is the email I received from The Safe Travels Team as our only viable option is to go to Phoenix a few days in advance of our flight and use XpresCheck at the Phoenix Airport (one of the only 4 XpresCheck services, the others being Boston, JFK and Newark)…. (Just make sure to get one of the tests they offer that is NOT an antigen test which is not acceptable to the State of Hawaii.)
Aloha Barbara,
Yes I still see XpresCheck as a trusted travel partner on our website (below).
hawaiicovid19.com/travel-partners/
Mahalo,
Safe Travels Team
This is their email if you want to ask more questions…[email protected]. XpresCheck has only been a Trusted Partner since 11/20/20 so some of the websites don’t list them yet but the Hawaii Covid19 site does.
Another option for Bill: you could fly to Portland Oregon and have a long layover. Go outside the airport to the express testing site. Then get tested, await the results which should come in an hour. Then upload the results and resume your flight. I totally sympathize with your situation with your aging parent. My mother-in-law is 89 and in assisted-living. She actually got Covid in August. It was a huge blessing, however, because she came to live with us and she got out of the AL lockdown as a result. She had almost no symptoms and we didn’t catch it from her either. She is now immune and we can visit her without worries, if they’ll let us in. We have subsequently had Covid also with no ill effects.
Thanks, Leann. The risk with that plan is that, if, God forbid, we test positive in Portland, then we’re stuck there with no friends or family near by. Risk may be small, but it would be terrible for us if it happened.
Bill, you are correct–the risk of a false positive is absolutely not small. It happened to my husband with Vault. We took 2 tests because we didn’t know which would be faster…Vault and Walgreens. Vault results arrived in a day and a half, Walgreens arrived in 4 days. Vault said positive and Walgreens said negative. He had to take a third test to find out he was actually not COVID positive but by that time we had to cancel our trip.
We used the testing site outside of Alaska Air in Portland. Tested on a Monday at 12 and gag results 3 hours later.
XpresCheck at Newark, NJ airport (EWR) allowed us to make an appointment weeks in advance (12/18 for our flight 12/21), and verbally confirmed they offer the NAAT test accepted by Hawaii in which results will return in 1-2 hours.
GRAY B…
Thanks for that post. We have no alternative but to travel to Phoenix three days in advance of our flight and use XpresCheck at the Phx Airport. (Long boring story short…there are no Rapid Results sites in our state and Vault will not test us as we have Medicare. Don’t trust Costco/Azova as they don’t work weekends and we are flying on a Wednesday.) And yes, they allowed us in late November to make reservations for January 4. Good to know they are real – their phone number in Phoenix never answers and has no voice mail – email to them yields no response.
Barbara, be careful of that plan. If you get a positive result (either legitimate or false positive) you will be stuck in Phoenix.
SM…
I now you responded with caring but here are the circumstances…
Walgreen’s never has any appointments available and does not do Rapid Testing anywhere in our state so we only have a one day window and if we can’t get an appointment that day, we’re cooked. (They only have 2 testing locations in our metro area of 850,000+)…. CVS is out of the running… Vault won’t test us because we are on Medicare… Costco/Azova only works 5 days a week and won’t guarantee response in a 72 hour window. And those are the only Trusted Partner options we have locally.
You wouldn’t have known this when you posted but we drive 6 1/2 hours to Phoenix in our own car so if we do get a positive, we just turn around and go home. Obviously if either or us has symptoms, we won’t have start the journey to start with. We can’t test here if it’s for travel. You can only get tested using insurance is you have symptoms and/or direct exposure. We’re thinking of being tested earlier that week at a not-Trusted-Partner site just to make sure – many folks are doing that.
Barbara, I just checked the XpresCheck site. They do not offer the rapid test in Phoenix. If that’s who you are planning on using, you’ll need to find someone else.
http://www.xprescheck.com
Sorry, Bill.
12 of us family members and friends arrived on Maui over this weekend. We used various airlines and none required proof of a negative test to board the aircraft. However on Alaska airlines they asked every person if we had uploaded our test and received our QR code. I don’t think you can upload your QR code once you are on the islands. The wait to get through the QR code process on Maui was two minutes long. You then have to have the pink slip they issue you to rent a car and to check into your hotel. Although there are signs everywhere that masks are required, we have only experienced that in grocery stores and retail outlets. In restaurants you have to wear a mask until you get to your table and then you can take it off. Although it is against the law to appear in public without a mask, You are not forced to wear a Mask on the beach or when you’re out walking and you are social distancing. However you may get a ticket but we haven’t seen any of that here. Also, among our party of 12, 2 initially tested positive, but since both had had Covid and knew they had the antibodies, they got retested and tested negative the second time. That was a bit stressful as we all waited for their second test results. So know that there are some faults positives out there.
Hello,
We booked travel to Maui and Kauai (since cancelled Kauai) back in April departing over the holidays. We are planning to begin a strict quarantine next week all the way through our departure on Dec. 25. Finding an approved testing partner (we live in MN) with a turn around time of 72 hours has been extremely time consuming, stressful and seemingly impossible. We have two options we’ll try and not sure those will even work.
On top of myself and many others already rerouting vacations (or cancelling) due to the Kauai closure, doubt whether we will make it into into the islands in time due testing, and the sands shifting on the Safe Travelers program daily, I advocate that government officials quickly decide on the best approach that effectively balances safety and convenience. Many travelers/residents are in limbo and stressed during an already stressful time.
We are happy to take multiple tests and quarantine (on the mainland only), but are coming to enjoy a respite and vacation, not quarantine. And, we are paying dearly for that time. We also want to visit many local restaurants and attractions while strictly adhering to COVID guidelines. We will also quarantine when we get back to the mainland.
I believe this small snippet reflects the story of many and would like again advocate a much better Safe Travelers process for visitors and residents, one that certainly includes a 96 hour testing window.
Thank you,
Melissa
Hi Melissa.
Thanks for your comment. We are awaiting an update regarding the proposal for 96-hour testing.
Aloha.
MELISSA>>>
I completely understand your angst and concern but in case this helps… Depending on what airport you fly out of, you might be able to get tested at that airport if you arrive a day or so early. For instance, we live in New Mexico and fly out of Phoenix. Xprescheck.com allowed us to make testing reservations over a month in advance. We’re going to Phoenix two days early to make sure nothing goes wrong and to get those tests. We have the same situation – there is not a facility in NM that does Rapid Results testing! You probably have a long layover anyway – use it to get tested.
It seems that Walgreens is now adding the Hawaii-approved NOW ID covid test at additional sites. On the Walgreen’s website, this is the test marked by a red dot on their maps. This is the only test one can use both because it is approved by Hawaii & b/c the results are returned to you within 2-3 hours. Also, if you register at the Walgreen’s site for a test & you go early because you have a flight departing in the next couple of days, they will often take walk-ins under those circumstances. They did that for my husband when he first tested positive (knew it was false) & then the next day he went back without an appt & they tested him & it came back negative. Keep checking your Walgreens’ site if you have a Walgreens in your area. Maybe yours will add the NOW ID test as well. Note: You need to sign up for an appt on the Walgreen’s site 4 days prior to when you want the test. The sign-up refreshes once a day–here it is at 4pm PST.
Leeann – where are you? Just wondering about the 4 pm…
Hi Melissa – I am leaving to MN on the 12th and have experienced days of research to only fine a few options (CVS/Walgreens) that don’t guarantee the required turnaround. Wanted to understand which option you went with? Would love to compare notes. We fly via LAX but with a 2 hour layover so that’s not an option.
We have tests scheduled on Friday; 2 with Vault, 1 with Kaiser. They keep assuring us we will have results on Sunday which we can print out. If they have not arrived, we assumed they would arrive Monday but after our flight leaves at 7 a.m. We do not want to cancel but now the new rule says Hawaii will not accept negative results post arrival. Another updates says we will be tested at our expense upon arrival if no hard copy in hand. We are going to have to proceed with our plan to arrive on Monday and hope that the daily updates in pre-testing match what we are able to provide to Hawaii. Any input on how it really works would be appreciated.
Hi Marsha.
You need to have negative test results when you arrive. Otherwise, there are no tests on arrival will spare you from the quarantine.
Aloha.
BOH…
Apologies if I should know this but don’t you have to have negative results in hand in order to even get on a plane – or is that only Hawaiian Airlines? And as far as having negative tests in hand upon arrival, I thought that was superseded by the requirement for pre-flight negative test. And so it goes!!!
Hi Barbara.
How’s it going? Others report the airlines don’t even ask.
Aloha.
American didn’t check when we left out of PHX to KOA on Sunday.
BOH:
There is intelligence to “err on the side of caution” and have your test results in hand but that is bizarre! Wasn’t that the whole hoopla last week and prior – that you had to have your results in hand pre-flight!?!?! They made a big deal out of “what happens if your test results come in while you are on the plane” and the answer was “no good”! I really am losing it!!! (And it’s going well – we leave for Phoenix on 01/03, test at Xprescheck at the Phx airport on 01/04 and fly out 8:00am on 01/06 (Xprescheck in Phx is not open on Tuesday/Wednesday.) We’ll be staying 2 nights at our timeshare (using Marriott points) in Scottsdale, visiting our favorite Bearded Dragon (the resort pet) and hanging out at “26” across the street at the JW Marriott and seeing our favorite bartenders. So for us it’s not going to be painful but it is an unnecessary nuisance! We’ve given up on Kauai – if Mayor changes things it will most likely be on the first of the month and we just didn’t want to have to change everything in 3 days. We’ll be on Oahu so email me any really cool suggestions you have – (North Shore 3 nights, Ko’alina 7 nights, Sheraton Waikiki 3 nights.) On the North Short, we’ll be drinking at Turtle Bay (not staying there, too $$$.) At Ko’alina we want to explore the west side after I do my obligatory visit to Mailie, Hawaii Cookie Company and buy my Koloa Rum. Sheraton – sunsets!
My Koloa Coffee Rum!!!
Hi Barbara.
As far as we can tell from others’ reports, no one (except perhaps Hawaiian) is checking for test results until you arrive in Hawaii. It seems foolish to depart from the mainland hoping they’ll arrive mid-flight however.
Aloha.
Just curious Barbara, where did you hear Hawaiian “requires” a test to board??? Friends just flew from PHX and it wasn’t required and about three weeks ago I visited SEA and no test required to board…..typical Hawaiian flight, on time, authentic Hawaiian service, A330 seating with everyone well spread out, etc etc….but no test required.
Btw I took the Discovery Health route in Seattle for testing and it was very easy. That said there are now a lot more options and the price is better at all the HA gateway cities (I just looked at their website)
Good luck, near as I can tell our Covid numbers are not exploding due to the soft opening of tourism, hopefully the travel options will get better soon.
Again, HA has it dialed the best from my perspective and it makes sense, they are the only airline that is singularly focused on Hawaii
Anyone in California should know that LabCorp and Quest are also valid labs. Go to the Safe Travel Registration site where you upload your results, even if you don’t have them. You will see a bunch of options to choose from, and you will not see some options that are listed on the Accepted Labs. This is a complete joke. I had to use WestPac through ExerUrgent care and they could not guarantee results in 72 hours. Then I waited and waited but never got notified. Luckily I found a way to log into the Exer Urgent Care site and my results were sitting there. The United States at it’s worse (which is it’s best)
Just saw CDC’s new quarantine guidelines of 7-10 days – will this change the Kauai rules do you think?
CVS should have informed its customers that they pulled out of Hawaii testing! On the 11/21 when I booked online the site stated for Hawaii travel! I booked my family to test on 11/23 AM since our flight was on 11/26! When we arrived at the drive up window showed our ID, confirmation # we told the assistant we were testing for our Hi trip. She said nothing about CVS pulling out the day before! Only two places near us that we could go for the PCR test was CVS ($139/ person) & Walgreens ($129/person) did not have any appointment!
How do I test with Hawaii airlines ?